Apparatus for producing pottery ware



Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan.. 8, 1943 l6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. .WILLIAM J. MILLER 16 Sheehs-Sheet 2 J J lr m v H Q %n v O mm S Sm V m 55:: Q @5 mu A mQ 3Q fi mQ M l A w W. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1943 MQ NQQ .ET xv Q Q Q Q k Q Q P P Q Mk 7 k Sept. 10, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGOTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1945 16 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORQ WILLIAM J. MILLER Sept. 10, 1946.

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Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1945 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 MILLER Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PbT'gERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1943 l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 INV l- ZNTORi WILLIAM J. MILLER Sept.1( ),1946. J. MILLER 1 2,407,321

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1943 l6 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. WIL LIAM J. MIL L ER ATTOR EY.

Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING; POTTERY WARE 1s Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Jan. 8, -1943 INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. MILLER BY I .4770 Y. I

Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER APPARATUS PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1945 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 Hay-3a lummiil. .mmmn

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Sept. '10, 1946. I w. J. MILLER 2 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE r 1e Shees-Sheet l4 f Fil ed Jan. 8, 1945 659 INVENTORW: j 520 7 WILLIAM J. MILLER f 811' M .59 g ifi, v I 7 ATTORN Sept. 10, 1946. w. J. MILLER 2,407,321 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Filed Jan. 8, 1943 l6 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. 0190 WILL/AM -J. MILLER Sept 10, 1946 w. J. MILLER 2,407,321 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE F'iled Jan r 8 1943 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 95 INVENTOR- I 552 WILLIAM J. MILLER Patented Sept. 10, 1946 A UNITED STATE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 8, 1943, Serial No. 471,704

1 This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware. It has to do particularly with the manufacture of ware such as jiggered dinnerware, for instance, plates, cups and saucers, bowls and the like.

The mass production of pottery ware by automatic machine and processes has involved a certain amount of manual intervention, particularly in the treatment and preparation of raw materials and in certain phases of clay, Ware and mold transportation, manipulation and 47 Claims.

this invention is to provide for making simultaneously several different kinds of ware, that is to say, Ware having differences in shape, size, decorative pattern or material and even composition by means of a single, unitary mechanical organization. This invention comprehends machinery capable of performing many and different steps, and combinations of steps in the manufacture of pottery ware some of which are conventional steps or operations and others of which afford new and improved ways and means of making pottery ware of this class.

The machinery of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that different sequences of operations may be performed at the same time and variations in the sequences and procedural steps may be made at will and in some cases while the machinery is in operation. Thus, insofar as production diversification is concerned, it may be varied from one which is highly diversified to one wherein substantially little or no diversification occurs. Thus, I provide in a single unitary installation the means of meeting the daily requirements of the average pottery Whether it be for large or small amounts of pottery of given shape or design and it is well known that these requirements may vary widely, particularly if the pottery merchandizes a large number of shapes and designs.

Instead of the intermittent fabricating system as illustrated in the patent to Miller No. 2,046,525,-

I propose to make the present system continuous, somewhat as shown in the application to William J. Miller, Serial No. 413,734, filed October 6, 1941. That is to say, from the beginning of fabricating operations to the point when the ware is removed from the dryer and therebeyond, the materials will move in continuous fashion whilst the various fabricating operations are performed. This makes for increased production speeds and raises the capacity of the machinery. Furthermore, clay is supplied to the fabricating portion of the present mechanical organization by a system and apparatus disclosed in application Serial No. 454,716, filed August 13, 1942, to William J. Miller.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 taken together to match end to end in their order lengthwise from left to right constitue a diagrammatic view in plan of the entire wareproduction system of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a rotary type mold conditioning machine of the system, a similar type of which is also employed to condition the ware during fabrication.

Fig. 4a is a detail showing a contact type mold oiler for use with the machine of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a plan section of the conditioning machine as taken substantially on the section line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section taken on the section line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of one of the rotary decorating machines of the system employed to either decorate the ware directly or through intermediation of the molds.

Fig. 8 is a plan section of the decorating machine, as taken on the irregular section line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 8a is a detail plan section taken substantially on the section line 8a8a of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9. is a detail plan section taken on the section line 99 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of one of the decorating organizations of the machine of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of a mutilated gear and rack assembly seen in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail plan section taken substantially on the section line 12-12 of Fig. it), with certain parts in changed position.

Fig. 12a is an enlarged detail plan section taken on the section line l2a-l2a of Fig. '7, illustrating one of the pump units employed.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional vi w Of a number of associated ware decorating parts seen in Fig. '7 with said parts brought closer together than seen in said figure.

Figs. 14, 15, 15a, 15b and 150 are views illustrating modified forms of the parts seen in Fig. 13 for producing various decorative patterns or formations on the ware directly or indirectly through the molds.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 14.

Fig. 17a is a fragmentary view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in Fig. 151).

Fig. 171) is a fragmentary view of a piece of ware decorated by the parts seen in 1511.

Fig.18 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of one of the rotary machines of the system for feeding clay charges to the molds.

Fig. 19 is a plan section of the said feeder as taken substantially on the irregular section line Ill-l9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a view in reduced scale showing the said feeder in supplied association with a clay desiccating device seen in vertical section.

Fig. 20a is an enlarged View of certain parts seen in Fig, 18 showing a preformed charge for hollow ware about to be initially fed to a hollow ware mold.

Fig. 20b is an enlarged view of other parts of Fig. 18 showing a preformed charge for flat ware about to be initially fed to a fiat ware mold.

Figs. 20c and 20d are views illustrating the manner in which the charges seen in Figs. 20a. and 201) are finally fed to their respective molds.

Fig. 21 is a central section of the upper part of another rotary clay charge feeder of the system and constituting a modified form of the feeder of Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary plan section of said feeder taken substantially on the section line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a View in reduced scale showing the feeder of Fig. 21 in supplied association with a continuous clay filter.

Fig. 24 is a vertical central section of another rotary clay charge feeder of the system.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary plan section of said feeder taken substantially on the section line 25- 25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a view in reduced scale showing the feeder of Fig. 24 in supplied association with an ordinary type of pug mill.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary elevation of a rotary press of the system.

Fig. 27a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of one of the dies of the press co-operating with a mold.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary elevation of a rotary jigger of the system.

Fig. 29 is a sectional elevation of a rotary puddling machine of the system.

Fig. 30 is an enlarged detail section of one of the hollow ware puddling heads seen in Fig. 29.

Fig. 31 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the section line 3I3| of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a detail plan section of the puddling head of Fig. 30, as taken on the section line Fig. 33 is a bottom plan of the fiat ware puddling head seen in Fig. 29.

Fig. 34 is a view in sectional elevation showing one of the rotary hollow ware, or cup, transfor machines in association with an appendaging machine.

Fig. 35 is a front elevation of one of the ware transferring units of the said transfer machine.

Fig. 35a is an enlarged detail of the gear and rack assembly seen in Fig. 35.

Fig. 35b is a detail plan section taken on the section line 35b--35b of Fig. 35 with parts in changed position.

Fig. 350 is an enlarged detail section taken on the section line 35c35c of Fig. 35.

Fig. 36 is a general plan section taken substantially on the section line 36-35 of Fig. 34.

Fig. 36a is a sectional detail of cooperating flatware pick-up and transfer chucks that may be employed for the machine of Fig. 34.

Fig. 37 is a detail plan section of an intermittent motion gearing connection partly seen in Fig. 34, and as substantially taken on the section line 31-31 of Fig. 34.

Fig. 38 is a central vertical section of another rotary transfer machine of the system.

Fig. 38a is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the transfer devices seen in Fig. 38.

Fig. 39 is a sectional plan view of the machine of Fig. 38, as taken substantially on the irregular section line 39--39 of said figure.

Fig. 40 is a detail vertical section taken on the section line 40-40 of Fig. 38. I

Fig, 41 is a detail plan section taken substantially on the section line 41-4! of Fig. 38.

Fig. 42 is a motion diagram illustrating movements of certain parts of the machine of Fig. 38.

Production system in general As illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 3, the system includes an endless flexible mold conveyor 5! comprising a series of centrally open mold carriers or positioning rings 52 interconnected in equally spaced relation by flexible links or cable sections 53. The conveyor is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane while travelling continuously in a tortuous path about idler sprockets and rotary machines of the system by having outboard supporting rollers 54 riding on rails 55 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

The molds for forming four types of ware are carried in the rings 52 in duplicate successive sets which, in the course of the conveyor, are brought into co-operative relation with a series of rotary machines 6!], til, 62, 63 and 64 designed to respectively condition the molds, treat molds for a certain method of ware decoration, treat molds for another method of ware decoration, further condition the treated molds and treat molds for engobing certain ware. These machines are selectively used.

The molds then continue to a series of rotary machines 65, 65 and 67 designed to selectively 60 feed clay charges of similar or of different composition or conditioned clay bodies to the molds and puddle and partially form the charges correlatively with respect to the ware forming surfaces of the molds prior to feeding. The charge 6 feeding machines may be supplied from an enclosed clay preparation organization R designed to simultaneously and continuously prepare the various clay bodies desired from the various plastic and non-plastic materials re- 70 quired and selectively feed same to the machines.

After receiving the charges, the molds continue to a series of rotary machines H to 93, inclusive, designed to selectively perform various forming, conditioning and decorating operations to produce the. ware as more fully herein after described. i

r The molds then pass through a drier 95 for an optimum period to dry to leatherhardness certain Ware to be appendaged, such as cups or the like, which are then conveyed out of the drier at a take-off station E to a rotary machine 96 which transfers same from an upright position in the molds to an inverted position in cooperative relation with an appendaging machine 91, the transfer machine also being designed to fettle and smooth the ware prior to being transferred.

The molds are then returned into the drier and are conveyed past take-off stations F and G' located along the conveyor course and are brought at predetermined points into cooperative relation, respectively with rotary machines 198 and 99 designed to transfer other types of ware, each requiring a. different drying period, to suitable conveying apparatus I60 and Hill arranged to convey the ware to suitable locations for further treatment. These machines are also designed to fettle, smooth and reverse or reposition the were incident to transferring same, if desired.

Upon leaving the drier, the molds are advanced to a rotary machine I02 employed to lay to the molds or reform thereon partly dried ware that may have become slightly distorted during drying and being especially of use as located, in an installation or an adaptation of the system wherein no type of ware is completely dried in the dryer. However, if the system is adjusted so that the ware leaving the dryer is too dry for the reforming operation, said machine N32 or number of same may be disposed along the conveyor course adjacent one or each of the take-off or transfer stations E, G, and F.

From the reforming machine I02, the molds continue to another rotary transfer machine I03 co-operating with a conveying system 13a to transfer the various types of ware that may remain on the conveyor to any one or a number of selected locations for further treatment, the machine being designed to fettle and smooth the ware and reverse the position thereof if desired.

Upon leaving the transfer machine I03, the empty molds are advanced to a rotary machine I04 co-operating with a conveying system IIMa to remove any one or all the molds of each set and transfer same to a suitable location for storage when changing the system over to the production of a different type or types of Ware, or when damaged or worn molds require replacement for repair.

type, about the tables of which the conveyor meshes to remain in co-operative relation with each machine during a sufficient portion of its rotation to perform the various operations on the molds or ware.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, a power unit I09, such as a combination motor and adjustable speed reducer is employed to constantly drive the ma- The next machine I05 along the course of the conveyor is also of the rotary type designedto co-operate with a conveying system "15a for transferring molds for a certain type or types of ware from one or more storage locations and placing same in the emptied mold carriers in any desired order.

The molds then continue to a rotary conditioning machine I06 designed to remove any foreign matter from the molds, and then continue to another conditioning machine I01 employed to apply to all the molds, or only those which have just been placed on the conveyor, a conditioning medium, such as oil. The molds then pass through a conditioning zone I98 comprising a tunnel within which 'the air is suitably'heated or otherwise conditioned to dry or otherwise put the molds in a proper condition as they return to complete another cycle of operation.

Generally, the machines are of the rotary table chines and mold. conveyor in synchronism, through a power shaft I09a and suitable gearing I09b co-operatin'g between same and the rotary machines I3, 8! and 93 which thus serve as driving connections for the conveyor at spaced intervals therealong and whereby the conveyor in turn serves as a driven connection for the rotary machines with which it meshes between said intervals. It is also contemplated that the conveyor and any number or all of the said rotary machines and idlers defining; its course may be independently or collectively driven in timed relation.

I Conditioning machine Conditioning of the mold and clay surfaces may require the application thereto under pressure, or otherwise, of heated air, certain gases, oil, or other fluid conditioning media to clean or otherwise improve the efficiency thereof.

Accordingly, the conditioning machine 60 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6) comprises a base III! of a pedestal III supporting the lower end of a central hollow stationary shaft H2 on which rotates a turret or table H3. The table is constantly rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the mold conveyor 5|, by having four pockets II 4 spaced about the periphery thereof and grooves II5 therebetween to receive the mold carriers and cable sections of the conveyor as it meshes therewith to an optimum degree therearound.

As the bowl, cup, saucer and plate molds IIS, H7, H8 and H9, placed in predetermined order in successive carriers of the conveyor, are carried about the table, each is elevated to a predetermined extent and rotated by a chuck I 29 under the path of a'laterally oscillating nozzle I2I which is adjusted to jet or spray the desired amount of conditioning medium over a predetermined portion or all of the Ware forming mold surface.

The mold chucks I20 are mounted on the top ends of vertical piston rods I22 of piston and cylinder type fluid pressure motors I23 secured to. a table I24 arranged under and connected With the table I I3. Each piston rod has a vacuum duct I25 opening into the chuck and connected With a vacuum line I26 in the shaft I I2 through a distributor I2? and hose I28 to vacuumize the chuck cavity at the proper time to securethe mold to the chuck while rotating same. For rotating each chuck, its piston rod extends through and is in sliding key connection with the hollow shaft I29 of an electric motor I30 energized at the proper time from any suitable source of current through a combination distributor and switch I3I on the central shaft I I2. Each fluid motor is energized at the proper time from a fluid pressure line I 32 through a distributor 33 and a four- Way valve I34 operated by adjustable arms I-35 on the central shaft I I2 and connected with both ends of the motor cylinder by valved conduits I36 to regulate the speed of travel and extent of up-dwell of the chuck.

Each nozzle IZI is mounted for vertical adjustment, to accommodate various heights of molds and approach to. molding surfaces, upon a depending hollow stem I38 at the end of a horizontally disposed hollow arm structure I39 having an upright trunnion I46 supported in a bearing I4! of a spider I42 mounted on uprights of the table 113. The arm structures are oscillated during each cycle of rotation of the table by a cam I 44 on the shaft I I2 co-operating with rollers I45 on arm extensions I46 of the arms and a spring I41 for maintaining the arms in contact with the cam. Each arm structure comprises inner and outer pipe-like sections I39a and I382! held in telescoped connection by a set screw I390 whereby the structure may be lengthwise adjustable to position the nozzle so that it will spray a predetermined portion of the mold across or away from the axis thereof as it oscillates thereover.

The mold oiler of Fig. 4A is attached to the conditioning machine by stem 166d. Hills is a casting having a porous cushion insert I66h which is fed through holes I66g with oil from an over head cavity I66 Oil is fed into the cavity from a tank I 66a through hose I661), a valve I660 being provided to regulate the flow. When the mold is pushed against the porous cushion, the oil is squeezed out or the cushion and applied evenly to the surface of the mold. Being resilient, the cushion conforms to the surface contour of the mold. The tank may be disposed on the axis of rotation of the conditioning machine to supply several oilers or each oiler may have an individual tank. Mold oiling is a necessary operation in the manufacture of ware of this class. Oiling prohibits excessive absorbtion of water by the mold and retards hydraulysis. Furthermore, the capacity of the mold to absorb water can be regulated by the amount of oil it absorbs before the wet clay bat is applied. Therefore, it is important that some control be exercised over the amount or quantity of oil applied to each mold which may vary depending on the type or kind of mold being serviced, The machine is provided with automatic valves which may, if desired, be connected to pipe I661) to valve only a given quantity of oil into reservoir I66 to thereby maintain a substantially constant static head. By valving greater or less quantities of oil each cycle the flow may be varied by varying the static head. The valving operation would, of course, be automatic and performed while the oiling head revolved with the mold about the axis of the turntable.

Each nozzle may be supplied with the same or a different conditioning medium, as required, from four different sources of supply of various media under pressure by way of mains I46, I49, I56 and I51. To this end, each main has valved branches I52 leading, respectively, to headers I53 of four conduits I54, each of which is connected with a nozzle by way of a distributor I55, a flexible conduit I56, a swivel coupling I51 on the trunnion of each arm and a passage I58 in the trunnion communicating with the nozzle through the arm sections I39a, I39b and stem I38.

For salvaging the excess conditioning media, and/or to dispose of the foreign matter, such as clay particles, dust, dirt, etc. removed from the molds during the conditioning operation, an exhaust hood I69 is mounted on each nozzle for vertical adjustment and connected with an exhaust pump I6I through a flexible conduit I62, a distributor I63 and a conduit I64.

Decorating machine Of the various methods to be employed in decorating the ware, one is to apply. the decorating medium to the mold to be transferred to the ware as it is formed thereon. Another method is to apply the decorating medium directly to the ware either immediately or during a predetermined time after jiggering or before or after it has been fired. Then again, the medium may be a dye or enamel or the like, or it maybe colored clay applied to the Ware to form inlayed or incrusted or embossed ornamental formations, or it may be impressed into the green ware with or without a coloring medium application.

Therefore, the machine 6| to which the molds are advanced after leaving the mold conditioning machine, has been designed for use in carrying out these various decorating methods, but is illustrated in Figs. '1 to 14 as being adapted to apply, for instance, inlayed or relief ornamental clay formations on a piece of ware I69, as seen in Figs. 16 and 17.

To this end, the machine includes a base I16 of a pedestal I11 supporting the lower end of a central hollow shaft I12 on which rotates a turret I13 having equally spaced thereabout pockets I14 and sheave formations I15 therebetween to respectively receive the carriers and cable sections of the conveyor as it meshes to an optimum degree therearound.

After the mold carriers are positioned in the pockets of the table, each mold is elevated from its carrier by a vertically reciprocable chuck Him and brought into register with a decorating device l16, which then reciprocates into contact with the mold surface and applies the ornamental clay formations I68 thereon, (Fig. 13) the device remaining in contact with the mold a sufficient period to insure proper application before it is raised to clear the mold and before the mold is lowered by the chuck into the carrier and carried from the machine.

As seen in Figs. 12 and 13 each decorating device, for hollow or flat ware, comprises a hollow head formed by a base portion I11 and a platen member I18 detachably secured to the base by bolts I180, and correlatively formed with respect to the ware forming surface of the mold it cooperates with. Mounted in openings in the platen face, for replacement, are decorating inserts I181) having molding recesses I19 from which the colored clay ornaments are deposited on the surfaces of the mold when the platen contacts same (see Fig. 13). Thus when the ware has been formed on the mold, said ornamentations are inlayed in the normally visible surface or side of the ware, especially flat ware, such as plates as seen in Fig. 16. The inserts of each platen are made of permeable material and, as it contacts the mold surface, air under pressure is forced therethrough to release the clay ornamentations from the recesses and apply them to the mold. Also, the surfaces of the molds may be suitably treated by the machine 5| to cause the ornamentations to adhere thereto, at least temporarily after application.

When each decorating device I16 is raised to its uppermost limit, its position is reversed during the intermediate portion of its stroke to bring its platen into operative relation with a matrix device I86 which supplies charges of variously colored clays to the recesses of the platen; For this purpose, on the table I13 is a concentric supporting dru'm I8I having spaced thereabout four vertical guideways, each formed by guide bars I82 between which is guided for vertical reciprocation, a crosshead I83. Each crosshead has a pair of lateral arms I84 with 

